Stern right to protect NBA’s interests over Popovich myopia

The Los Angeles Lakers are playing at Toyota Center against the Rockets on Tuesday night. There are tickets available.

I wouldn’t buy one if I were you. Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni might decide his star players need a break and leave Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol at home.

The Rockets are at home against Dallas on Dec. 7. Don’t buy a ticket for that one, either. No Dirk Nowitzki? No O.J. Mayo?

Definitely avoid the Dec. 8 home game against San Antonio. We know now that Spurs coach Gregg Popovich’s players aren’t up to an 82-game schedule and are likely to take any night off. Four of his top players, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobli and Danny Green, didn’t play at Miami last Thursday night, didn’t even show up for the game, flying home instead.

Boston plays at Toyota Center on Dec. 14. Not only should you not be there in case Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo aren’t, ESPN should cancel its live broadcast of the game. The network could fill the time with Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith arguing about Tim Tebow.

And why should the Rockets take Jeremy Lin to New York for a homecoming game in Madison Square Garden? Knicks fans can’t wait to see him again, but who cares about them? It’s bound to be a very emotionally draining game for Lin. I’m not sure the Rockets should put him through that.

You probably get my point by now.

If not, I’ll add one more of particular local interest. Much of the Houston market can’t see Rockets games on television because of the difficulty Comcast has had in selling its sports channel to other distributors. If the best players aren’t playing, for any other reason besides injury, the Rockets become even less valuable as a television attraction.

The only concern I have over David Stern’s punishment of the Spurs for clearly flaunting NBA rules was that it wasn’t severe enough. A $250,000 find might not be considered as much deterrent by some teams.

But Stern had no choice but to take some action. Popovich’s desire to rest players, especially at the end of a grueling six-game road trip so that he can keep them fresh for the remainder of the season, is understandable from a coach’s perspective. His job is to win a title.

(Perhaps he should get younger players. Or perhaps the NBA should reconsider the length of the regular season, although that is unlikely because it would cost owners and players money.)

Stern’s job, however, is more vital to the health of the sport. When he became commissioner, so few fans cared about who won the NBA championship that the games weren’t even carried live on national television.

By training, he is a lawyer. Through experience, he has become professional sports’ best salesman. He knows what he’s selling, not only the world’s best basketball league but entertainment.

Make it possible for the stars to play only when they feel like it, or when their coaches feel like playing them, and you have made the game less entertaining for your most valuable players–the fans.

Popovich, incredibly, has a lot of supporters among media. None of them probably had to tell a young boy recently that the game he would be seeing at Toyota Center, perhaps the only game NBA game he will see this season, wouldn’t include Derrick Rose.

But at least he could understand the explanation, an injury. He would not have understood if he had been told that Rose was just too tired to show up that night. It would have been a memory he would have carried with him for the rest of his life and perhaps even passed on to his children.

Even Popovich acknowledged his actions weren’t fair to Miami fans, who won’t have another chance during the regular season to see Duncan, Parker, etc. He did it anyway.

His priorities might be correct for the Spurs as a basketball team. I would guess most Spurs fans agree with him and believe Stern overreacted.

So here’s one solution: Popovich, if he decides to continue violating the rules, should rest his stars at home.

32 Responses

the miami heat almost lost to the spur’s bench. the fact that the spur’s bench can get that far shows the depth of the team and it also shows that popovich understands and trusts his team enough to sit out the stars and left the bench take on the load. this is how a team basketball is supposed to be played and i do not understand how you think it is wrong. stern wasnt protecting nba interests, he did what he has done through his own interests–to humiliate popovich and the spurs. This is quite ironic because he was the one that totally got humiliated and then fined the spurs for embarrassing him.

You like that article because it takes your side. Too much media have lost touch with the people who buy the tickets. Spurs fans might be OK with this outbid blind loyalty, but can’t believe they’d like it if Miami didn’t bring LeBron to San Antonio.

You state it is Stern’s job to protect the NBA. In that case, why don’t you do away with the back to back games or the 4 games in 5 nights situation? You get rested players who should put on a much better show than a team who is tired from all the traveling involved in a schedule.

In regards to your comment about baseball teams being in town for two or three days. I remember a few years ago when the Yankees came to town and rested their big name players during the Sunday afternoon game. Is it your contention that a fan should have to buy tickets to all three games so they can make sure they see their favorite player? Or if they buy just one, does the manager not have the right to give his player a day off?

would be interested to know what rule the spurs were ‘clearly flaunting’ is it codified? because, if so, I suppose that I’d have to agree that Stern was in his rights, and we are left with arguing about whether the rule makes sense when the individual team should be able to make its own decision about what is right for it in its quest for the only thing that matters; a championship. as a Rockets’ fan, I guess I am just a bit tired of Stern.

Owners in 2010 gave commissioner latitude to determine whether teams were acting within best interests of league. It was meant to address in particular those teams late in the season that sit their stars to rest them for the playoffs or teams that lose on purpose to enhance their chances in the lottery. It’s discretionary. But there is no question Popovich went over the line on this one. If every team practiced it, it would ruin the league.

“Popovich, incredibly, has a lot of supporters among media. None of them probably had to tell a young boy recently that the game he would be seeing at Toyota Center, perhaps the only game NBA game he will see this season, wouldn’t include Derrick Rose.”

Too freaking bad. What a joke. The wussification of America, once again. No surprise coming from a jouralist. It’s no difference than baseball players getting a day off. What if that same kids favorite player was Josh Hamilton and his Dad bought him tickets to see Hamilton play but he was left out of the lineup that day? Same thing.

Stern acted like a 3rd rate dictator. No wonder he has so many fans in the media.

Baseball teams, even if they make only one trip to a city, usually stay for three or four games. There are other opportunities to see favorite players. They also need more days off because they play so many games, as compared to the NBA. And baseball teams, even if they sit one player for a game, don’t usually sit three or four of their best players. They certainly don’t send them home, not even making them attend games, except occasionally with starting pitchers. Wussification of America? Assuring that sports are attractive to present and future ticket buyers. Hope you’re never in charge of a company I’ve invested in.

So, if your kids’ favorite baseball player takes the day off, you should just shell out another $100 for cheap seats, coke and popcorn? That argument doesn’t fly. Duncan & Parker have been playing for years. By your logic, that same poor kid has had plenty of opportunities to see him. As for baseball players not sitting 3 or 4 of their best players, maybe not. But, most kids have a favorite player. Not 3 or 4. I doubt there are a whole lot of kids in Miami who count 3 or 4 Spurs among their favorite players.

Popovich can do what he wants. Stern wanted to act like a dictator. He made a fool of himself. Your reactionary defense of him is telling. As for you not wanting me to run a Company you invest in, well, I wouldn’t want someone you support running the country I live in. Or, I’d prolly live like a North Korean.

I don’t necessarily agree with your point, Randy, but respect that you continue to reply to almost every post. Much appreciated, even replying back to the idiots! Your replies add credibility to your posts – though to find elsewhere on this website.

Thanks. It would be strange and not conducive to discussion if everyone agreed with all of my opinions. I give my honest opinions and hope people will respond one way or another. Everyone’s opinion is legit. But it is is bothersome when some respond merely with insults. Doesn’t speak well for their intelligence or upbringing.

Stern is nothing but a punk wearing a nice suit. The schedule was purposely set up to embarrass the Spurs. The Heat was given several days rest while the Spurs had a riduculous road trip so Pop said, “I see your lousy scheduling and I raise you a couple of stars getting sent home.”

I love it. Anytime someone rubs Stern’s face in his nonsense, it is a beautiful thing.

Popovich has done, and will continue to do what is best for his players.

I went to the Astrodome once long ago (I still have the ticket stub) to see the Astros/Rockies play. I wanted to see Larry Walker. He did not play that day. The Rockies “rested” him.

Years ago, I went to Maryland to visit family (some 2,500 miles) and they got tickets to an Orioles game at Camden Yard. I thought I would see Cal Ripken, Jr., play. He did not play that day…The O’s “rested” him.

Am I permanently mentally, psychologically damaged….. I don’t think so. Was I disappointed? Yes. But in both cases I got what I paid for. I saw a professional baseball game. Biggio, Bagwell, et al. In my opinion, when you buy a ticket to a “sporting event” you are paying to see the event….. not particular players. Because there is no “iron-clad” guarantee…. any particular player will play.

The schedule that the Spurs had to play prior to going to Miami was insane. Miami was on four days rest. Spurs had played 4-5 consecutive games, in six nights.

In my opinion, for what it’s worth……. Stern is more upset that San Antonio wasn’t totally humiliated by the Miami Heat. They only lost by (5).

Spurs beat Memphis. Mission accomplished. The “myopia” is with Stern. If the NBA is totally dependent on TV revenue…..they are in bigger trouble than imaginable. If their fan base, and ticket,and product sales aren’t their primary source of revenue…. they will soon go the way of the NHL.

Can we get somebody back to writing about pro basketball, who may not feel the need to suck up to the Commissioner of the NBA? Didn’t we already have that with Richard Justice, and baseball?

So Michael Jordan delivers a (2011-2012) 7-59 Bobcat team and there is no punishment for him or his coach….? I think Paul Silas even let his kid coach one game!! Using your logic…if i had attended the March 14th affair vs the Bobcats(HOU 107-87) i might have lost all i hold dear with the NBA or the sport of basketball? Watched it on TV, and the outcome did not make me cry or hate basketball.

Now tell me, What is different between Michael Jordan with all the tools needed to build a NBA team and only getting 7 wins different from Pop resting his star players?

I dont know where your from or who your favorite sports teams are but, when i go to see my hometown teams(Texans, Rockets, Astros) i don’t care if they are playing the other teams waterboys or cheerleaders, i want the win.

There are 6,973,738,433 people on this planet and 450 of them play in the NBA. Those 450 are the best and they are all professionals. Line up and win, baby.

MJ didnt have his best players because he traded them for trash. Them being a playoff team in 2010…. Tyson Chandler, Stephen Jackson and Gerald Wallace…all traded for scraps of Erick Dampier, Vladamir Radmanović and Joel Przybilla.
Any resemblance to Nando de Colo, Tiago Splitter and Matt Bonner?

Line up and win. Yes, because the Spurs are the Spurs no matter who plays for them, so go beat them.

I understand that the NBA has a requirement that planned absences have to be announced in advance, and if the Spurs didn’t observe that deadline, then punish them for that offense: failure to report the decision in time. Or make it mandatory that the full roster has to travel unless injured. But until that’s part of the rules, I don’t think the commissioner has any grounds to interfere with a coach or team decision.

If certain game are supposed to be more important than others, then make them count more than a regular game in the standings.

There is a rule regarding reporting in advance. And TV games counting more in the standings would be a nightmare. Pop knew he was wrong, did it anyway to make a point and Spurs paid consequences. Look up Mark Cuban comments on the subject. Very reasoned

Pop owes you and the fans of Miami absolutely nothing. He owes it to the fans of his own team to put the team’s best interests first. That probably is one of the reasons he has 4 rings. And let’s be totally honest here. Not one fan in Miami came to that game to See Duncan or Parker or Manu. Those 3 are team-oriented players. Not what your boy Stern and the NBA are trying to market.

And Stern owes it to fans and television rights partners to put best product possible on the floor every night. Even Pop knows that. He was just trying to make a point about scheduling. He cheated the game.